Science Common Sense

942 - How do hormones affect growth and development?

Hormones are special chemicals in our body that help control different things, such as how we grow and develop. Imagine them like messengers in our body that tell different parts what to do.

Some hormones, like growth hormone, help our bones, muscles, and organs grow bigger and stronger. They do this by telling our body to produce more cells and to build new tissue.

Other hormones, like thyroid hormones, help control how fast or slow our body grows. If these hormones are out of balance, it can affect how tall or short we become.

Hormones also help control other things, like when we go through puberty (when our body starts to change into an adult body). During puberty, hormones like estrogen and testosterone help us develop adult features, like body hair and breasts in girls, or a deeper voice and facial hair in boys.

So, hormones play a big role in helping us grow and develop into healthy, strong adults.